Proxy mechanism for mesh-type networks

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for connecting a mesh type network via an access device (C) to another network. A proxy mechanism is provided in the mesh type network, that allows for interconnection and range extension of legacy access point based mesh type networks.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit or priority of and describes therelationships between the following applications: wherein thisapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/060,293, filed Feb. 23, 2011, which is the National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/IB2009/053751, filed Aug. 27, 2009,which claims the priority of foreign application EP08163484 filed Sep.2, 2008 all of which are incorporated herein in whole by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a method, acomputer program product and a system for connecting a mesh type networkvia an access device to another network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In WLAN deployments without mesh services, client stations or endstations (STAs) must associate with an access point (AP) in order togain access to the network. These STAs are dependent on the AP withwhich they are associated to communicate.

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) standard802.11s develops a wireless local area network (WLAN) mesh standard.With wireless mesh networks (WMNs) devices can easily interconnect. Eachdevice works as a wireless router that forwards frames for otherdevices. Thus, networks can be easily deployed without an additionalfixed infrastructure.

A so-called mesh network appears functionally equivalent to a broadcastEthernet from the perspective of other networks and higher layerprotocols. As an example, the mesh network may be an LAN according tothe IEEE 802.11 specifications, where links and control elements forwardframes among the network members. Thus, it normally appears as if allmesh points (MPs) in a mesh are directly connected at the link layer.This functionality is transparent to higher layer protocols.

A standard ‘infrastructure’ wireless local area network is a centralizednetwork in which STAs attach to the AP which acts as a ‘master station’.This centralized topology makes network formation and initial channelselection easy. The AP is configured to start transmitting at a certainfrequency channel and the STAs only need to find this channel e.g. byscanning a list of available frequencies. They can do so actively, bybroadcasting probe requests on each visited channel, or passively, bylistening for advertisements or beacons on each visited channel. Afterhaving visited all available channels, they will have found all APs thatare in the vicinity, and can select one to associate with.

In many households, a digital subscriber line (DSL) provides high-speedInternet access. Due to economies of scale and strong competition, DSLmodems often provide a rich set of features at an affordable price. Theydo not only integrate an Internet Protocol (IP) router but mayfurthermore work as print and file server and connect wireless clientsvia 802.11 links. Accordingly, 802.11 networks have a high penetrationrate in the home. Furthermore, APs have become a commodity and can befound nearly everywhere.

Due to the current 802.11 design, the central AP manages the whole WLAN.However, APs typically do not interconnect. Each WLAN established by anAP is an independent network. For large scale coverage, APs requirewired backbones that interconnect them. With WMN technology, devices caninterconnect over the air. Each device becomes a wireless router thatprovides the frame forwarding service for other devices. To be able tooperate as wireless router, a device needs special capabilities orsoftware modules. However, many existing APs cannot be upgraded. Eitherthe device's manufacturer considers a product to be end of life and thusproduct maintenance has ended or, the device's hardware limits possibleimplementations. Thus, a generic solution is needed that connects a WMNwith one or more existing APs and thus provides the WMN with the AP'sInternet connectivity.

FIG. 1 shows a mesh data frame structure according to the IEEE 802.11specifications. A frame control (FC) field contains amongst othercontrol information a type and subtype for the mesh data frame and twoflags “To DS” and “From DS”. The two flags are set to “1” in order toindicate that the data frame is in the wireless distribution system andtherefore in the mesh network. Additionally, address fields A1 to A4 areprovided to convey and indicate destination, source, transmitter andreceiver addresses. The four address fields contain 48-bit long MAC(Media Access Control) addresses. The first address field A1 indicates areceiver address which defines the mesh point that has to receive thewireless transmission. The second address field A2 indicates atransmitter address which defines the mesh point that sent this wirelessdata frame. The third address field A3 indicates a destination addresswhich defines the final (layer 2 or link layer) destination of this dataframe. The fourth address field A4 indicates a source address whichdefines the (layer 2 or link layer) source of this data frame.

Furthermore, duration/identity (D/ID), sequence control (SC) and framecheck sequence (FCS) fields are provided, which are not discussed herefor brevity and simplicity reasons. Further details can be gathered fromthe IEEE 802.11 specifications. A body (B) portion is provided to conveydesired payload data up to a length of 2304 octets.

Each of the above addresses may have a length of 6 octets and maps onthe address fields A1 to A4 depending on the “To DS” and “From DS”information of the FC field. The IEEE 802.11 standard clearly statesthat an address field is omitted “where the content of a field is shownas not applicable (N/A).” Solely when both bits “To DS” and “From DS”are set to “1”, four address fields appear in an 802.11 frame.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic network architecture, where the four addressfields A1 to A4 are used to interconnect to different IEEE 802.3 networksegments with the help of a wireless network (e.g. an IEEE 802.11 WLAN)comprising devices G and H. Here, the wireless network is used toprovide a bridge between a first independent wired LAN comprisingdevices A to C and a second independent wired LAN comprising devices Dto F. APs form infrastructure basic service sets (BSSs). In a BSS, theAP relays all traffic. Although the IEEE 802.11 standard provides fouraddress fields, only three address fields A1 to A3 are typically neededin an infrastructure BSS.

FIG. 3 shows a signaling example based on the network architecture ofFIG. 2, wherein device B sends a frame destined to device F. In thiscase, four address fields are needed on the wireless link betweendevices G and H. The fourth address field A4 corresponds to a sourceaddress (SA) field that holds device B's address. The third addressfield A3 corresponds to a transmitter address (TA) field that holdsdevice G's address. The first address field A1 corresponds to a receiveraddress (RA) field that holds device H's address. The second addressfield A2 corresponds to a destination address (DA) field that holdsdevice F's address. Once device H has successfully received the 802.11frame from device G, it strips off the data portion in the 802.11 bodyand sends out the data portion in an 802.3 frame that solely containsdevice B's address as source address and device's F address asdestination address.

However, most of the current 802.11 APs, however, cannot operate in thisbridging mode as described above. They solely serve as AP in their localinfrastructure BSS.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary conventional network architecture, where asingle device C works as AP, router and modem that connects a WLAN withan external network 100, e.g. the Internet. Client devices A and B haveassociated with the AP C. The devices A and B may exchange data via theAP C or access the external network 100. In any case, the devices A, Band, C use three address fields only. The client devices A and B set the“To DS” bit to “1” and the “From DS” bit to “0” when sending a frame tothe AP C. If the device B sends a frame to the device A, the firstaddress field A1 contains the AP's address as the receiver address (RA).The second address field A2 contains the source's address. Here, thesource address is device B's address. The third address field A3contains the ultimate destination's address. Here, the destinationaddress (DA) equals device A's address. In case device B wants tocommunicate with an Internet station, the DA address holds the AP'saddress since device C works as an IP router or default gateway.

Once AP C has received device B's frame, it analyzes the third addressfield for the destination address. If destined to AP C, the frame issent to a higher layer where the IP router operates. If destined todevice A, AP C relays the frame. Thus, AP C sends a frame to device Athat has the “From DS” bit set to one and the “To DS” bit set to zero.The frame's address field 1 contains the Receiver Address (RA). In thiscase, it contains device A's address. The second address field containsthe Transmitter Address (TA) that is AP C's address. The third addressfield contains the Source Address (SA), which equals device B's address.

FIG. 5 shows a correspondingly reduced 802.11 mesh data frame structurewith only three address fields A1 to A3, sufficient for all of theaforementioned frames in an infrastructure BSS that uses three addressfields only.

With APs that can handle three addresses only, the local BSS is limitedto a single wireless hop. FIG. 6 shows an exemplary conventional networkstructure, where a device A connects with an AP C and a WMN. The deviceA can use any service of the AP C's infrastructure BSS. However, thedevice A cannot provide its network connectivity to the WMN. Althoughthe device A and other devices D to G form a single WMN, the addressinglimitation at the AP C prevents the device A from sharing itsconnectivity.

Since the AP C allows for the usage of three addresses only, all framestransmitted to the WMN must be destined to the device A. Without furtherinformation however, the device A cannot decide about a frame's finaldestination. Thus, the device A cannot forward frames to anotherdestination in the WMN.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a more flexibleapproach which allows for interconnection and range extension of legacynetworks.

This object is achieved by one aspect of the invention in which anapparatus for connecting a mesh type network via an access device toanother network, the apparatus operating as a proxy device on behalf ofat least one actual device present within the mesh type network, theapparatus comprises:

a) an interconnectivity layer configured for receiving frames fromactual devices present within the mesh type network and for internallyrouting the received frames to at least one virtual device internallyconfigured within the apparatus, and

b) a radio access controller configured to maintain individualconnections between the apparatus and the access device on behalf of theat least one actual device of the mesh type network via theinterconnectivity layer.

This object is also achieved by another aspect of the invention in whicha method for connecting a mesh type network to another network via anaccess device, at least one network node of the mesh type network havingan apparatus operating as a proxy device on behalf of at least one othernetwork node in the mesh type network, the network comprises:

a) internally configuring at least one virtual device within theapparatus, wherein the at least one virtual device corresponds to anassociated actual device present in the mesh type network;

b) receiving frames from actual devices of the mesh network into theapparatus;

c) internally forwarding the received frames from the actual devices ofthe mesh type network to a corresponding virtual device internallyconfigured within the apparatus, via an interconnectivity layer withinthe apparatus;

d) maintaining individual connections between the apparatus and theaccess device by a radio access controller within the apparatus, and

e) delivering a signal received from the access device to an addressedvirtual device within the apparatus.

The object is also achieved by a further aspect of the invention whereina non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions forimplementing a method for range extending legacy access point based meshtype networks via an access device when run on a computer device, themethod comprising:

a) internally configuring at least one virtual device within adesignated proxy device of the mesh type network,

b) using an interconnectivity layer in the designated proxy device ofthe mesh type network to maintain individual connections with the accessdevice for at least one other device of the mesh type network,

c) receiving frames from the at least one other non-proxy device of themesh type network,

d) internally routing, via the interconnectivity layer, the receivedframes from the non-proxy devices of the mesh type network to acorresponding virtual device internally configured within the mesh typenetwork, and

e) forwarding the received frames from the virtual devices to the accessdevice.

Accordingly, a sort of proxy mechanism is provided, that allows tointegrate a legacy network with a wireless mesh network (WMN). Thereby,interconnection and range extension of e.g. legacy AP-based WLANs orsimilar types of networks can be achieved. Moreover, the proposed proxymechanism does not require any changes or modifications to the accessdevice(s) (e.g. AP). It works with any type of access device.

The proposed apparatuses, which serve as a proxy mechanism, may beimplemented, for example, as processor devices, modules, chips, chipsets or circuitries provided in a network node or station. A processormay be controlled by a computer program product comprising code meansfor performing the steps of the claimed methods when run on a computeror processor device.

According to a first aspect, at least one virtual radio station can beprovided within an apparatus serving as a proxy mechanism, wherein aradio access controller configured within the apparatus may be adaptedto deliver a signal received from the access device to an addressedvirtual device internally configured within the apparatus. Since acommunication between the access device and virtual stations within theapparatus acting as a proxy mechanism is established, the correctdestination address of an actual device within the mesh type network(MSN) can be easily detected.

According to a second aspect which can be combined with the above firstaspect, the radio access controller may be adapted to serializetransmission requests if multiple entities try to transmitsimultaneously. Thereby, multiple entities can transmit at the sametime.

According to a third aspect which can be combined with any one or bothof the above first and second aspects, at least one wireless accessnetwork interface card may be comprised for providing a connection tothe access device, wherein the radio access controller may be adapted tointerconnect the wireless network interface card and logical entities ofthe apparatus so as to establish the individual connections. Thismeasure allows to maintain several independent connections at a time.

According to a fourth aspect which can be combined with the thirdaspect, at least one wireless access network interface card may share atleast one of the physical layer and link layer channels. This measuresaves processing resources.

Further advantageous developments are defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described based on various embodimentswith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a mesh data frame structure with four address fieldsaccording to the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic network architecture where four address fieldsare used for interconnection according to the prior art;

FIG. 3 shows a signaling example based on the network architecture ofFIG. 2 according to the prior art;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary conventional network architecture, where asingle device works as AP, router and modem according to the prior art;

FIG. 5 shows a reduced mesh data frame structure;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary network structure, where a single deviceconnects with an AP and a mesh network;

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary network structure, where a single devicebehaves as a proxy in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic block diagram of a device according to a firstembodiment;

FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram of proxy mechanism according to a secondembodiment; and

FIG. 10 shows a signaling example based on the block diagram of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described onthe basis of an exemplary wireless mesh network topology as shown inFIG. 7.

End-user devices (such as end stations (STAs)) A, B and D to G canbenefit from the ability to establish interoperable peer-to-peerwireless links with neighboring end-user devices and legacy accessdevice AP “C” or base station sub-system (BSS) in a wireless mesh typenetwork. Mesh points (MPs) can be quality of service (QoS) STAs thatsupport mesh services, i.e. they participate in interoperable formationand operation of the mesh network. An MP may be collocated with one ormore other entities (e.g., AP, portal, etc.). The client stations or endstations, e.g., STAs “A” and “B” of the wireless mesh type network (WMN)can associate with the access point (AP) “C” to gain access to anexternal network, e.g. the Internet. T.

According to a first embodiment, a proxy mechanism or functionality isprovided, where a device that connects with both the wireless meshnetwork (WMN) and a legacy access device, access point (AP), or BSS basestation sub-system (BSS) operates on behalf of all devices that arepresent in the WMN.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary network structure, where a single devicebehaves as a proxy device in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. More specifically, actual device “A” of the wireless meshnetwork (MSN) behaves as a proxy device for devices “D” to “G” of thewirelss mesh network (MSN). For access point (AP) “C”, all frameexchanges appear to occur locally. In other words, the access point AP“C” considers actual devices “D” to “G” to be one hop away, as proxydevice A is configured to maintain a separate connection with the accesspoint (AP) C for each of the member of the wireless mesh network (WMN).Thus, proxy device “A” serves as an actual device of the wireless meshnetwork (WMN) and in addition virtually implements actual devices “E”to“G” as well. From the perspective of the access point (AP) “C”, alltraffic appears to be local (e.g., appears to be one hop away). Thus,the access point (AP) “C” treats the actual devices of the mesh typenetwork “E” to “G” as part of its base station sub-system (BSS).

FIG. 8 shows a schematic block diagram of a configuration of device(e.g. proxy device A in FIG. 7) according to a first embodiment. A radioaccess controller or management entity 20 interconnects wireless networkinterface cards 10 and each logical entity via an interconnectivityarrangement, unit, or layer 30. The radio access management entity 20delivers received frames to a selected one of a plurality of virtualentities STA “D” to STA “F”, internally configured within proxy device“A”, and may serialize frame transmission requests if multiple logicalentities try to transmit at the same time. The proxy device “A” with theproposed proxy mechanism or functionality may thus incorporate more thanone actual radio device of the wireless mesh type network (WMN). Eachradio device may have its own physical layer (PHY) and link layer (e.g.MAC) channel. Alternatively, two or more radio devices may share a PHYand/or link layer (e.g. MAC) channel.

Additionally, the block diagram of FIG. 8 shows a mesh pointfunctionality (MP) and a station functionality STA “A” of the proxydevice A, which both can be addressed by the radio access managementunit 20 e.g. in dependence on the functionality of the proxy device A.

FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram of proxy mechanism, which is incorporatedinto a proxy device, according to a second embodiment in a mesh network.This procedure may be implemented as a software routine controlling aprocessor or controller provided in the radio access management unit 20of FIG. 8.

The procedure is initiated as soon as a frame is received from one ofthe devices of the wireless mesh type network (WMN) (e.g. one of devices“D” to “G” of FIG. 7). The received frame is forwarded to theinterconnectivity layer 30 of proxy device “A” (step S101). Then, basedon the source address of the received frame, a corresponding one of thevirtual stations STA D to STA G is selected and the frame is internallyrouted (i.e., delivered) to the selected internal virtual stationimplemented in proxy device “A” (step S102). Finally, the frame can besent via the access point (AP) to the external network 100 (step S103).

The same procedure can be applied in reverse when a frame is receivedvia the access point (AP) from the external network 100. Here, one ofthe virtual stations can be selected based on the destination addressprovided in the frame from the access point (AP). From there, the framecan be forwarded from the proxy device “A” based on the destinationaddress to the respective actual device of the WAN.

FIG. 10 shows a signaling example based on the block diagram of FIG. 8.Device A connects as mesh point with a WMN by using its internal meshpoint functionality MP. Alternatively, the device connects as stationwith the AP C by using its internal station functionality STA A. Forevery device or mesh point of the WMN that device A proxies, a virtualstation can be established. The virtual stations STA “D” to STA “G”connect with the AP C, and thus, appear as being locally in theinfrastructure base station sub-system (BSS) of the access point (AP)“C”. Thus, proxy device A comprises its station functionality STA “A” asa logical entity that connects with the access point (AP) “C”. Thisstation functionality STA “A” forms part of access point (AP) C'sinfrastructure base station sub-system (BSS). Via the access point (AP)“C”, the station functionality STA “A” has access to the externalnetwork 100, e.g., the Internet.

Furthermore, proxy device “A” also comprises the mesh pointfunctionality MP that connects to the wireless mesh network (WMN). Proxydevice “A” can instantiate a virtual station for each device of the WMNthat proxy device “A” proxies. The interconnectivity layer 30 of proxydevice “A” interconnects all logical and physical stations, mesh pointsand other functionality, and thus enables frame forwarding between thedifferent entities and ensures frame delivery to the correct entity.

In the example of FIG. 10, actual device “F” needs to access theexternal network (e.g. Internet). It uses the wireless mesh network(WMN) to reach proxy device “A”. In the wireless mesh network (WMN),intermediate devices of the wireless mesh network (WMN), for example,actual device “G” may forward frames to the proxy device A. Havingreceived device F's frame, the proxy device “A” forwards the receivedframe to its interconnectivity layer 30. The interconnectivity layer 30internally routes or delivers the frame to the corresponding virtualstation STA “F” that proxy device “A” implements on behalf of the actualdevice F. Appearing as actual station F to the access point (AP) “C”,the frame can be sent from the proxy device “A” to the external network100, e.g., the Internet. Frames that are received in the reversedirection (e.g., from the external network, via the Access point (AP)“C” to the wireless mesh network) can be easily forwarded from the proxydevice “A” to the final destination (e.g., an actual device) in thewireless mesh network (WMN). Since the access point (AP) “C”communicates with the internally configured virtual stations, e.g., STA“D” to STA “F” at proxy device A, proxy device A can easily detect thecorrect destination address. Thus, even with a three address format thatis used in the AP C's infrastructure base station sub-system (BSS), thenetwork connectivity of the proxy device AP “C” to the external networkcan be provided via the proxy device A to the whole wireless meshnetwork (WMN).

In summary, an apparatus and method for connecting a mesh type networkvia an access device to another network have been described, wherein aproxy mechanism is provided in the mesh type network, that allows forinterconnection and range extension of legacy access point based meshtype networks.

It is noted that the present invention is not restricted to the aboveembodiments and can be used for any network environment which comprisesat least one central AP or access device for transmitting to orreceiving from a connected network. Moreover, the designation of theentities or functions which provide the proposed proxy mechanism may bedifferent, as long as they fulfill similar functions. The inventionworks even if there is only one other mesh device besides the one thatworks as forwarder or proxy device. Thus, even a single wireless accessnetwork interface card and a single radio device can be provided in theexemplary proxy device of FIGS. 8 and 10.

Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effectedby those skilled in the art, from a study of the drawings, thedisclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising”does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a”or “an” does not exclude a plurality of elements or steps. A singleprocessor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several itemsrecited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recitedin mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that acombination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computerprogram used for controlling processor to perform the claimed featuresmay be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an opticalstorage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as partof other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such asvia the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limitingthe scope thereof.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for connecting a mesh typenetwork via an access device to another network, the apparatus operatingas a proxy device on behalf of at least one actual device present withinthe mesh type network, the apparatus comprising: a) an interconnectivitylayer configured for receiving frames from actual devices present withinthe mesh type network and for internally routing the received frames toat least one virtual device internally configured within the apparatus,and b) a radio access controller configured to maintain individualconnections between the apparatus and the access device on behalf of theat least one actual device of the mesh type network via theinterconnectivity layer.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atleast one virtual device within the apparatus corresponds to an actualdevice present within the mesh type network.
 3. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the radio access controller is further configured to delivera signal received from the access device to an addressed virtual devicewithin the apparatus.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein all frameexchanges between the access device and the actual devices of the meshtype network appear to the access device to occur locally.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio access controller is configuredto serialize transmission requests if multiple virtual devices try totransmit simultaneously to the access device.
 6. The apparatus of claim1, further comprising a wireless access network interface card forproviding a connection to the access device, wherein the radio accesscontroller is configured to interconnect the wireless network interfacecard and logical entities of the apparatus so as to establish theindividual connections.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at leasttwo of the wireless access network interface cards share at least onephysical layer and link layer channel.
 8. A method for connecting a meshtype network to another network via an access device, at least onenetwork node of the mesh type network having an apparatus operating as aproxy device on behalf of at least one other network node in the meshtype network, the method comprising: a) internally configuring at leastone virtual device within the apparatus, wherein the at least onevirtual device corresponds to an associated actual device present in themesh type network; b) receiving frames from actual devices of the meshnetwork into the apparatus; c) internally forwarding the received framesfrom the actual devices of the mesh type network to a correspondingvirtual device internally configured within the apparatus, via aninterconnectivity layer within the apparatus; d) maintaining individualconnections between the apparatus and the access device by a radioaccess controller within the apparatus, and e) delivering a signalreceived from the access device to an addressed virtual device withinthe apparatus.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of receivingframes from devices of the mesh network occur at the inteconnectivitylayer of the apparatus, wherein the interconnectivity layer isconfigured to receive frames from actual devices of the mesh typenetwork.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of maintainingindividual connections between the apparatus and the access device by aradio access controller, comprises maintaining each individualconnection on behalf of the at least one device of the mesh type networkvia the interconnectivity layer.
 11. A method for range extending legacyaccess point based mesh type networks via an access device, the methodcomprising: a) internally configuring at least one virtual device withina designated proxy device of the mesh type network, b) using aninterconnectivity layer in the designated proxy device of the mesh typenetwork to maintain individual connections with the access device for atleast one other device of the mesh type network, c) receiving framesfrom the at least one other non-proxy device of the mesh type network,d) internally routing, via the interconnectivity layer, the receivedframes from the non-proxy devices of the mesh type network to acorresponding virtual device internally configured within the mesh typenetwork, and e) forwarding the received frames from the virtual devicesto the access device.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step ofreceiving frames from devices of the mesh network occur at aninteconnectivity layer of the apparatus, wherein the interconnectivitylayer is configured to receive frames from devices of the mesh typenetwork.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of internallyrouting the received frames from the devices of the mesh type network,comprises routing the received frames from the interconnectivity layerof the apparatus.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step ofmaintaining individual connections between the apparatus and the accessdevice by a radio access controller, comprises maintaining eachindividual connection on behalf of the at least one device of the meshtype network via the interconnectivity layer.
 15. The method of claim11, further comprising delivering a signal received from the accessdevice to an addressed virtual device within the apparatus.
 16. A systemfor connecting a mesh type network via an access device to anothernetwork, the system comprising the access device and at least one othernetwork node in the mesh type network, the apparatus comprising: a) atleast one virtual device internally configured within the apparatus,wherein the at least one virtual device corresponds to an associatedactual device present in the mesh type network; b) an interconnectivitylayer configured for receiving frames from devices of the mesh typenetwork and forwarding the received frames to the at least one virtualdevice internally configured within the apparatus; and c) a radio accesscontroller configured to maintain individual connections between theapparatus and the access device, wherein each individual connections ismaintained on behalf of the at least one device of the mesh type networkvia the interconnectivity layer, and wherein the radio access controlleris further configured to deliver a signal received from the accessdevice to an addressed virtual device within the apparatus.
 17. Atangible computer readable storage medium that is not a transitivepropagating signal or wave, encoded with modules of instructions andcontrol information, for controlling a processor for performing a methodof connecting a mesh type network to another network via an accessdevice, at least one network node of the mesh type network having anapparatus operating as a proxy device on behalf of at least one othernetwork node in the mesh type network, the method comprising: a)internally configuring at least one virtual device within the apparatus,wherein the at least one virtual device corresponds to an associatedactual device present in the mesh type network; b) receiving frames fromactual devices of the mesh network into the apparatus; c) internallyforwarding the received frames from the actual devices of the mesh typenetwork to a corresponding virtual device internally configured withinthe apparatus, via an interconnectivity layer within the apparatus; d)maintaining individual connections between the apparatus and the accessdevice by a radio access controller within the apparatus, and e)delivering a signal received from the access device to an addressedvirtual device within the apparatus.
 18. A non-transitory computerreadable medium comprising code means for generating the steps of claim11 when run on a computer device.
 19. The Apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe access device is an IEEE 802.11 access point device processing onlythree address fields.
 20. The Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the accessdevice is an IEEE 802.11 access point device processing only threeaddress fields.